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Safety

Most medicine works as expected. When it does not, the questions are urgent and specific: is this reaction normal, did I take too much, should I stop, and do I need a doctor now or can it wait? This section deals with those questions.

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If you are worried about symptoms right now and they involve breathing, swelling of the face or throat, chest pain, confusion, uncontrolled bleeding or a suspected overdose, treat it as an emergency. Call 10177 from a landline or 112 from a mobile phone, or contact the Poisons Information Helpline on 0861 555 777 for suspected poisoning or overdose.

What this section covers

Safety pages fall into four broad groups. There are side effect pages, which explain what is common and expected against what is a warning sign. There are allergy and reaction pages, covering how to recognise a genuine allergic reaction and what to do about it. There are dose pages, dealing with missed doses, accidental double doses and overdose concerns. And there are stopping pages, about whether a medicine can be discontinued and what happens if it is stopped suddenly.

Running through all of them is the same distinction: effects that are unpleasant but expected, and effects that mean you should get help without delay.

How to use this section

Match the page to the medicine and to what is actually happening. If you have a rash after antibiotics, the antibiotic reaction pages will be more useful than a general side effect page. If your concern is a dose you missed, read the dose pages rather than the side effect ones.

Note the ingredient, not just the brand. Allergies in particular follow the ingredient and its family, which is why a reaction to one penicillin type antibiotic matters for others in the same group.

These pages describe general patterns. They cannot judge how serious your symptoms are. When something feels wrong, err towards asking rather than reading.

Where to start

Warning signs that need help now

Some symptoms should never be researched instead of acted on. Get emergency help for swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a widespread rash with blistering or peeling skin, chest pain, fainting or severe dizziness, confusion or unusual drowsiness, seizures, uncontrolled bleeding, or vomiting blood.

Contact a doctor the same day for a spreading rash without breathing problems, a wound that becomes hot, swollen and increasingly red, fever that starts after a new medicine, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, or side effects that stop you managing normally.

For a suspected overdose, act immediately even if the person seems fine. Some overdoses, paracetamol in particular, cause serious harm long before symptoms appear. Take the medicine packaging with you.

Finding the right page for your question

If your concern is a combination rather than a single medicine, Interactions is the better section. For information about a specific product, see Medicine, and for the substance behind it, Active Ingredients. If your question is about whether a medicine needs a prescription, see Medicine Schedules.

Common questions

What can I find in the Safety section?

Pages on side effects, allergic reactions, missed and double doses, overdose concerns, warnings about who should avoid a medicine, and when to stop or continue treatment.

How do I choose the right safety page?

Choose by what is happening now. Match the medicine or ingredient to the type of problem, whether that is a reaction, a dose question or a decision about stopping.

Should I ask a pharmacist or doctor?

Yes, whenever symptoms are severe, unexpected, worsening, or affecting someone vulnerable such as a child, an older adult, or someone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. Pharmacists can advise immediately and without an appointment.

Are these pages a substitute for the leaflet?

No. The leaflet lists the approved side effects and warnings for your exact product. Read it, and use these pages to understand what it means in practice.

Should I stop a medicine if I get a side effect?

Not automatically. Some side effects settle within days, and stopping certain medicines suddenly, especially chronic ones, causes its own problems. The exception is a suspected allergic reaction, where you should stop and get help straight away.

All Safety pages

Every page in the Safety section is listed below, in alphabetical order.

A

B

C

D

E

F

I

M

N

P

R

S

T

V

W

Information only and not a substitute for medical advice. Check the medicine leaflet and ask a pharmacist, doctor or qualified healthcare professional for guidance about your own situation. In an emergency, seek immediate medical help.

Safety and interaction guides

90 pages in this section.

Accidental Double Dose MedicineAmoxicillin Allergy SymptomsAntibiotic Allergy SymptomsAntibiotic Rash What to DoAntibiotics and DiarrhoeaAntibiotics During PregnancyAntibiotics Side EffectsAntidepressant Side EffectsAntihistamine SafetyAntihistamines During PregnancyBetadine Thyroid WarningBloating and Stomach Pain When to WorryBlood Pressure Tablets Side EffectsCan Children Take Adult MedicineCan Children Take AllergexCan Children Take IbuprofenCan I Stop Amitriptyline SuddenlyCan I Stop Blood Pressure TabletsCan I Stop Chronic MedicationCan I Stop Taking StatinsCan I Take Ibuprofen On an Empty StomachCan I Take Painkillers While PregnantCan You Drive After Taking AntihistaminesCan You Take Antihistamines While PregnantCan You Take Laxatives Every DayChild Took Too Much MedicineChildren and Medicine SafetyChronic Medicine Safety GuideCiprofloxacin Tendon PainCold Medicine OverdoseCold Medicine Safety GuideCold Medicine with High Blood PressureCough Medicine Under 2 South AfricaDecongestants and High Blood PressureDiarrhoea and Dehydration SignsDigestive Medicine Safety GuideExpired Medicine What to DoExtra Dose of Medicine What HappensFungal Infection Not Improving After CreamInfected Burn SignsInfected Cut SymptomsItchy Rash SpreadingMedicine Allergy SymptomsMedicine Dosage for ChildrenMedicine During Pregnancy South AfricaMedicine Rash What to DoMedicine Safety for Older AdultsMedicine Safety South AfricaMedicine While BreastfeedingNSAID Side EffectsNSAIDS and Kidney ProblemsNSAIDS and Stomach UlcersPain Medicine for ChildrenPainkiller SafetyPainkillers During Pregnancy South AfricaPainkillers While BreastfeedingPainkillers with High Blood PressureParacetamol Overdose SymptomsPenicillin Allergy SymptomsPurbac Allergy RashPus From WoundRash Not Improving with CreamRecurring Thrush When to See DoctorRingworm Not Going AwaySafe Painkillers During Pregnancy South AfricaSerious Medicine Side EffectsShould I Double My Next DoseSigns of Infected WoundSkin Infection SymptomsStatin Muscle PainSteroid Cream Side Effects Skin ThinningToo Much Ibuprofen SymptomsToo Much PanadoToo Much ParacetamolTook Extra Antibiotic DoseTook Too Much Medicine What to DoVomiting and Dehydration SignsWhat Happens If You Stop MetforminWhat Happens If You Take Too Much PanadoWhen Not to Take ImodiumWhen to See a Doctor for a BurnWhen to See a Doctor for AllergiesWhen to See a Doctor for FeverWhen to See a Doctor for Severe HeadacheWhen to See a Doctor for ToothacheWhen to See Doctor for Skin RashWhen to See Doctor for WoundWhen to Seek Help for Medicine Side EffectsWho Should Not Use BetadineWound Red Swollen Painful

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Uses.co.za provides independent medicine information for South Africa. We do not sell medicines and we are not a pharmacy. This page is general information, not personal medical advice.

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